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Functions Of Jails and Probation in Society
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Jails are short-term establishments that are funded and operated by counties and hold
mostly pretrial detainees, persons who cannot afford bail, or prisoners with misdemeanor
offenses that require a detention term of up to one year or less (Stohr & Walsh, 2019). While jails
are short-term holding facilities, prisons are extended control amenities owned by the state or
federal government that serve those who are convicted of more severe crimes and given longer
time in custody (Stohr & Walsh, 2019). Moreover, it is important to note the fact that not all the
people in jail are criminals; most of them are pre-trial detainees who have not been legally
condemned yet.
The estimated duration in jail is much less compared to that of prison. While jail terms
may range from a few days up to several months, prisons, on the other hand, may be as long as
years, in consideration of the nature of the crimes that were committed (Stohr & Walsh, 2019).
Probation frees persons convicted of crimes to continue serving their term in society
while working and with their families, unlike when they are imprisoned. The assertion that
probation is just ‘a slap on the wrist’ remains rather debatable. I disagree with this notion
because probation has a better rehabilitation record than imprisonment, thereby offering a
cheaper way of reducing the rate of prison relapse due to criminal activities (Stohr & Walsh,
2019).
However, there are benefits and drawbacks to supervising justice-involved individuals in
the community. The advantages include the ability to meet financial obligations of employment,
which fosters economic stability, and recognition of individuals' needs to address each as unique
(Stohr & Walsh, 2019). Some of the issues include failure to meet probation requirements and
the tendency of the delinquents to re-offend in case supervision is lacking. Probation must be
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appropriately resourced to provide offenders with the correct tools and support mechanisms that
will enable them to reintegrate into society.
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References
Stohr, M. K., & Walsh, A. (2019). Community Corrections: Probation and Intermediary
Sanctions. In Corrections: the essentials. Sage Publications.
Stohr, M. K., & Walsh, A. (2019). Jails and Detention Centers. In Corrections: the essentials.
Sage Publications.
